Tension gripped Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday after gunmen opened fire near the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke visited the monarch to celebrate his electoral victory.
The incident occurred after Adeleke collected his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and proceeded to the palace, accompanied by members of his entourage, including his nephew, music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and some of the governor’s children.
According to police, the shooting began after a suspected gang member, identified as Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as “Small Rugged,” allegedly attempted to gain access to Davido but was stopped by security personnel attached to the musician.
The confrontation reportedly attracted other suspected gang members, who allegedly gathered around the palace entrance and disrupted the movement of the governor’s convoy.
Earlier reports said suspected hoodlums had gathered near the palace in an unregistered Toyota Sienna and were involved in an argument before gunshots suddenly rang out. A trader operating near the palace, Laide Misture, said the shooting began shortly after the governor and members of his entourage entered the palace.
She said the attackers allegedly fired from the direction of the palace’s main gate, prompting security personnel attached to the governor and his entourage to respond.
The exchange of gunfire reportedly lasted several minutes, sending residents, traders and other people in the area into panic. The suspected attackers eventually fled the scene in their vehicle.
Confirming the incident, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said gunshots were heard as the governor’s entourage was preparing to leave the palace.
Alimi said the governor’s security personnel engaged those responsible for the shooting, adding that authorities were aware of an earlier altercation involving different groups outside the palace. He said, however, that the identities of the groups involved and the immediate cause of the dispute had yet to be established at the time.
The police later provided further details, saying preliminary investigations indicated that Davido was the apparent target of the attack.
According to the Osun State Police Command, the confrontation escalated into a gun battle between the suspected gang members and security personnel. Residents around the Oja Oba area reportedly fled or sought cover as gunfire continued intermittently.
The police said the suspected attackers later fled the area and, while escaping, allegedly shot a 60-year-old man, Tajudeen Yusuf, around the Itaolokan area of Osogbo.
Police officers who arrived at the scene found Yusuf critically injured and rushed him to the University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo. He was subsequently pronounced dead by doctors.
The police described Taoreed, also known as “Small Rugged,” as a suspected notorious thug, an ex-convict and alleged member of the Eye Confraternity.
The command said it had launched a full-scale investigation and was working to identify and arrest all those responsible for the violence.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election-related security in Osun State, CP Samuel Etaifo, condemned the incident and assured residents that the police would deploy all available resources to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Authorities appealed to members of the public with useful information to contact the nearest police station or the police command through its official channels.
The incident has heightened concerns over security in Osogbo following the election-related celebrations. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands as investigations continue.
At the time of the reports, questions remained over the precise circumstances that triggered the confrontation, the identities and number of those involved, and the full circumstances surrounding Yusuf’s death. Further details are expected as the police investigation progresses.
Gunmen Attack Gov. Adeleke’s Convoy in Osogbo, Police Say Davido Was Target
